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Juventus projected lineup vs Empoli: Ronaldo and Dybala lead the attack

By John Vaccaro

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus hi-fives Paulo Dybala during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus hi-fives Paulo Dybala during the Serie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /
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TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus competes for the ball with Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio during the serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio on August 25, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus competes for the ball with Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio during the serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio on August 25, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /

CB: Medhi Benatia

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s nice to be Juventus. Their depth on defence provides them with plenty of opportunities to keep Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci fresh. In this match, Bonucci will be the one who benefits from this depth as he has started Juve’s last 6 matches and started both of Italy’s matches during the international break. Benatia has only gotten 4 starts this season, but he has played pretty well in those starts (outside of that one lapse against Genoa). He was Juve’s first choice to start alongside Chiellini last season and he has once again looked the part of an everyday starter this season.

CB: Giorgio Chiellini

Juve’s captain played a big part in delivering yet another clean sheet on Tuesday and they will keep him in the lineup against Empoli. Juventus will want to be as close to full strength as possible with no midweek game next week so it only makes sense for them to start Giorgio Chiellini in this match. He remains one of the world’s best centre-backs and will make Juve’s defence very difficult for Empoli to break through. Juventus could really use an emphatic league win after last weekend’s disappointment and the best way to get that is to start Chiellini.

CB: Andrea Barzagli

Andrea Barzagli is another example of the embarrassment of riches Juve possesses on defence. He might not be quite the player he used to be, but the 37-year-old is still solid every time Juve sends him out there. He has only made 2 starts this season so he should be pretty fresh for this matchup. Normally this is a spot where I’d like to see Daniele Rugani get a start, but because he is still recovering this should likely be Barzagli’s 3rd start of the season.

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